The Toombs County High School baseball class of 2011 has been winning games since they were hitting against the pitching machine. In their second year of ball they finished third in the state and in they did the same thing in their second season against live pitching and they were the only team to beat 28-1 Wayne County. Now in their second season of middle school ball they are trying to repeat as champions. Center fielder Ryan Davis says the boys have been playing together for six years and that helps, “Since we were little we have always played together. We work together as a team and when we get together we play some real good ball.”

Toombs County Middle School opened up the season with a 10-6 loss to Glennville, but since then they have won five straight, beating Claxton 8-4, Bryan County 18-1 and Long County 12-0. In a double header on March 17, the Bullpups swept Dodge County 12-1 and 17-4. In the first game Lance Mosely threw a two-hitter with nine strikeouts. Mosely said he focused on throwing strikes, “I just mainly threw fastballs with three or four curves.” Mosely also hit a home run over the right center field fence his first homer in middle school ball and seventh of his baseball career. “He just threw it right in my sweet spot (high and outside) and I got solid contact on the ball,” said Mosely.

In the second game Josh Allen and Brett Jernigan pitched Toombs to the win and right fielder Evan Adams went 3-4 and doubled in two runs. Adams hits in the five hole and is the Bullpups top RBI man. “I kind of hit good under pressure,” said Adams. “I like it when there are runners on second and third and I can drive them in with a base hit.” Jonathan Salter also had a big offensive game going 4-5 with two triples.

Most of the Bullpups have been playing the same defensive positions for years. But there has been a change in the outfield, Davis and Alex Akins swapped outfield postions. Davis moved to center and Akins to left. Akins says the outfield is coming around, “We are doing good, we have made a few errors, but we have straightened that out this season,”

In the infield Jonathan Salter plays first base, Tyler Wilds second, Mosely third and Josh Allen and Brett Jernigan share the shortstop position. Patrick Craft is the Bullpups' catcher and he has already thrown out four runners trying to steal, “ I just get a good jump on the ball and throw it as hard as I can,” said Craft, who also works with a deep pitching staff and he tries to help them, “I just spot and try to help them get the calls they deserve.”

TCMS has been using seven pitchers this season and coach Randy Callahan says he is very pleased with his pitching staff, “We have a lot of guys who can throw a lot of strikes. They have been pitching since they were in little league. I had most of these guys in little league, I started them early trying to get them to pitch and trying to get the little league coaches to let them pitch and they cooperated, said Callahan. “I have seven guys who can come in and throw at anytime. I feel real comfortable that we will have plenty of pitching all year and it is a blessing to be able to have that.

Upcoming Schedule

A-team plays first followed by the B-team. Games are played on field next to Toombs County High School.

Saturday- March 31- Bryan County at TCMS 10 a.m. and then vs. Long County at 11:30

Bullpups work on the fundamentals